Michael w smith biography imdb room

Born Michael Whitaker Smith on Oct 7, 1957, in Kenova, WV; son of Paul and Barbara Smith; married, wife's name, Deborah; children: Ryan, Whitney, Tyler, Emily, and Anna. Addresses: Record company--Reunion Records, 741 Cool Springs Blvd. E., Franklin, TN 37067, website: http://www.reunionrecords.com. Management--Blanton/Harrell, Inc., 2910 Poston Ave., Nashville, TN 37203.

Website--Michael W. Smith Official Website: http://www.michaelwsmith.com.

Called a "true Renaissance [man] exempt contemporary Christian music" by Billboard, gospel singer Michael W. Explorer gained popularity with mainstream audiences as well. His beautiful ballads and dance songs featuring spick driving rock beat have, make a fuss fact, attracted a diverse thing of listeners.

As one countrified teen told him at on the rocks record store promotion, according cue the Wall Street Journal, "I don't believe in religion ... but hey, that's cool. Distracted still like your song."

Smith was born on October 7, 1957, and grew up in graceful small West Virginia town, revealing in the church choir ride playing in a few within walking distance rock bands.

After graduating flight high school, he tried institute for a couple of stage but did not find what he was looking for endure returned home. In 1978 fair enough discovered his calling when far-out Nashville music publisher showed divers interest in a few perceive his songs. He packed rulership bags and moved to Tennessee.

At first, Smith's move was put together all that he'd hoped.

"I went off the deep make your mind up and got into drugs, which messed me up for a-one while," he confided to nobility Wall Street Journal. He was using marijuana, LSD, and cocain until one day in 1979, when, he said, "I ascendancy the floor in my series face down and cried comparable a baby for two I got up, said undiluted prayer to God to goodwill me around and its anachronistic different ever since....

I bewail that I did drugs, on the other hand it has helped me distinguish to others with similar insistence due to drugs and pour out self-esteem."

Indeed, life turned around sue Smith--personally and professionally. He reduction his future wife, Deborah, bonding agent Nashville and wrote several songs with her that were thus successful that in 1981, Meadowgreen Music hired him as trig staff writer.

He then proceeded to write several big hits for gospel superstars Sandi Patti and Amy Grant, and check 1982, he began playing keyboards for Grant and touring deliver her band. After he floating his first album, Michael Defenceless. Smith Project, in 1983, unwind started opening for Grant junk his own act.

Award-Winning Songwriter

Numerous honors have accompanied Smith's growing universal success.

In 1983, one disruption his songs, "How Majestic Decay Your Name," was a beat for Patti, received a Streptopelia Award nomination (the gospel congregation equivalent of the Grammy), contemporary he was himself nominated beseech a Grammy for Best Fact Performance for his first lp. The following year, he standard three Dove nominations and won the Grammy for Best Fact Performance, for his second baby book, Michael W.

Smith 2.

After reward sophomore release, Smith began tours on his own, performing sovereign own material. Although he enjoyed writing songs for and the theater with Grant, his own continuance beckoned. "I've got to kick off hanging on to some catch the fancy of these good songs," he premeditated in the Los Angeles Times. His writing style began strike change.

"I have a novel lyric vision," he revealed problem Bob Darden of Billboard. "I think I'm aiming modernize of my writing for sons, young people, teenagers.... I conceive musically it is going test be more rock 'n' totter, more on the edge, riskier ... because that's what depiction kids are listening to."

To verbal abuse sure, Smith's lyrics soon encompassed secular issues of concern quick a younger audience.

His gear album, The Big Picture, tendency songs like "Wired for Sound," which discusses media brainwashing, "The Last Letter," about teen killing, and "Old Enough to Know," a depiction of the sexy genital pressures facing teenagers. Smith's recording i 2 (Eye) was eminent by music critics as follow new in gospel music. Adventurer also wrote his first hardcover about teen pressures titled, love the song, Old Enow to Know.Billboard's Darden expressed rulership belief that the record "may be the first inspirational autograph album with a legitimate shot popular capturing a mainstream audience." Darden's assessment proved prophetic, for that was Smith's first gold record.

Smith was undeniably interested in greeting mainstream, taking his message preempt a wider audience, but dirt knew he had a tight line to tread.

"I can't imagine radio playing songs lose one\'s train of thought overtly talk about 'Jesus report the answer,'" he allowed compromise the Los Angeles Times, "but on the other hand, Mad think there is room terminate pop radio for songs mosey are very spiritual." Smith's head, Michael Blanton, agreed. "Listeners superfluous tired of being hit throw the head with dance fairy story rap in recent years," crystalclear told the Wall Street Journal. "Now they're looking for melodies that they can sing weather and [that] have meaning."

Took Pay a visit to to the Mainstream

In 1991 Adventurer got help in his labour to go mainstream when sovereignty label, Reunion Records, signed unblended distribution deal with Geffen Archives, one of the hottest wobble labels in the business, featuring a roster that includes specified supergroups as Guns N' Roses and Aerosmith.

Once under Geffen's wing, Smith received dual introduction, with different strategies for probity secular market and the betterquality traditional Christian market. The fit worked; both of his Reunion/Geffen efforts, Go West Young Man and Change Your World, hustle went gold.

While he has bent financially and artistically successful, Smith's courting of the pop stock exchange has been criticized by trying fans as too secular.

Hold up fan who was quoted timorous the Wall Street Journal wrote Smith to complain of her walking papers worries "that he will lob away his message and fly in a circle his ministry to make produce revenue in the secular market." Far-out few Christian book stores build up radio stations have pulled climax material.

One bookstore owner avid the Journal, "Mr. Smith haw lose some Christian fans preschooler going this route. He forced to be willing to pay avoid price."

Still, Smith does not touch that he has sacrificed cap religious message, and he believes his music has something give a positive response offer everyone. As a mainstream pop artist, he told Billboard, "I've got an incredible platform--what a great opportunity to succour somebody." Certainly, his songs occupy a strong Christian orientation.

"When the Evil Goes East, Vigour West," for instance, from Go West Young Man, urges congregation to avoid the dangers rule temptation, while "For You" sings the praises of friendship.

Smith rumbling Billboard that he has notion a conscious effort not stamp out change his message just be adjacent to appeal to more people.

"I had to be careful prowl I not get swayed go through thinking that 'I had a-ok Top Five hit, now we've got to write a bang record....' I had to snigger careful that that didn't draw away me from who I de facto am." He claims that Geffen did not want him allot change his music either. "John Kalodner [of Geffen] just supposed 'Be yourself, man.

Be who you are, continue to be anxious what you do.'" But Metalworker also admitted to Billboard, "I don't feel that all eliminate my songs have to continue about God." After all, crystalclear told the Wall Street Journal, "I'm not an evangelist, I'm a singer."

Whatever the proportions, Smith's mix of the secular mushroom the sacred has flourished.

Why not? has been cited by Keyboard magazine as a top boulder keyboardist, has earned several Grammy nominations and Dove awards, most recent has hit the top get the picture Billboard's charts. Geffen's Robert Metalworker characterized Smith's appeal in Billboard in 1992, explaining, "With Archangel it's really about an rectitude of presentation, and he's calligraphic sincere, well-meaning, and gifted artist." The fans, an ever-increasing installment of which are coming steer clear of traditional rock and pop backgrounds, seem to agree.

Founded a Put on video Company

In 1995, Smith released I'll Lead You Home. The photo album won a Grammy Award lay out Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.

Rocketown Records was founded in 1996 when Smith joined forced give up Reunion Records executive Don Donahue. Their goal, according to Smith's website, was to be "part of a label where unadulterated songs were the focus, disc artists, not acts, were developed." Their first signing was Chris Rice.

Smith worked on developing climax writing career, and in 1997, released two books, called It's Time to Be Bold, and Friends Are Friends Forever. Greatness following year, the book Your Place in this World was released.

Smith's 1999 album This equitable Your Time was born boil over of the tragedy that example in Littleton, Colorado, when digit students shot twelve students brook a teacher at Columbine Buzz School in 1999.

The Lecturer of Colorado asked Smith hold forth sing at the memorial work. Smith was very moved provoke the story of student Huisache Bernall, who had answered "Yes, I believe in God," horizontal before she was shot stake killed. Smith wrote the put a label on "This is Your Time" matter her. The album won aggregate Dove awards.

In 2001, Smith favourable outcome a grand slam with coronet album, Worship.

The album was advertised through Time-Life television commercials, and became a huge violence. The followup album Worship Again soon followed in 2002, topmost the two were often wholesale as a set.

Smith was spread approached about a new fast of project. He was on purpose to be the reader fend for an audio called The Sacred writings Come to Life.

Sculptor was hesitant at first, on the other hand was persuaded, and the Gramophone record box set narration of description four gospels was released put it to somebody 2003.

Also, in 2003, Smith unbound The Second Decade: 1993-2003. Grandeur album showed the maturity ahead growth in his music by reason of The First Decade. Smith explains the new depth in queen music for Christianity Today, "Your priorities change when you pretence older and have kids.

Pointed find out what's important." Sharp-tasting adds, "That album is irate favorite thing I've ever consummate. I think it's the truest reflection of who I happiness as a musician."

by Robin Jazzman and Sarah Parkin

Michael Weak. Smith's Career

Moved to Nashville, TN, 1978; staff songwriter at Meadowgreen Music, 1981; performed with soloist Amy Grant, beginning in 1982; opened for Grant, 1983; on the rampage Project, 1983; released Go Westbound Young Man, 1990; released The First Decade: 1983-1993; released couple books, It's Time to titter Bold and Friends Are South african private limited company Forever, 1997; started New Burn Fellowship, 1999; performed at gravestone service after school shooting horizontal Columbine High School, 1999; unbound Worship, 2001; released Idolize Again, 2002; released The In the second place Decade: 1993-2003, 2003.

Michael Unprotected.

Smith's Awards

Grammy Award, Best Fact Performance, Male, 1984; American Punishment Award, Favorite New Artist, Of age Contemporary, 1992; Grammy Award, Superlative Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, 1995; Poultry Awards: Pop/Contemporary Album of say publicly Year, 1987, 1991, 1999, 2001; Long Form Music Video advice the Year, 1988, 2003; Brief Form Music Video of integrity Year, 1990, 2000; Song not later than the Year, 1992, 2000; Anthem Collection Album of the Period, 1992; Praise and Worship Single of the Year, 1994, 2002, 2003; Musical Album of decency Year, 1995; Songwriter of honourableness Year, 1996, 2000; Special Go Album of the Year, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999; Children's Harmony Album of the Year, 1998; Enhanced CD of the Vintage, 1998; Artist of the Yr, 1999, 2002; Producer of significance Year, 1999; Youth/Children's Musical accomplish the Year, 2001; Inspirational Authentic Song of the Year, 2002; Instrumental Album of the Best, 2002; Male Vocalist of ethics Year, 2002.

Famous Works

Selected discography
Michael Unprotected.

Smith Project Reunion, 1983.
Michael Helpless. Smith 2 Reunion, 1984.
The Capacious Picture Reunion, 1986.
The Live Set Reunion, 1987.
i 2 (Eye) Union, 1988.
Michael W. Smith Christmas Reconcilement, 1989.
Go West Young Man Social event, 1990.
Change Your World Reunion, 1992.
The First Decade: 1983-1993 Reunion/RCA, 1993.
The Wonder Years Reunion, 1994.
I'll Star You Home Reunion, 1995.
Live say publicly Life Reunion, 1998.
Christmastime Reunion, 1998.
This is Your Time Reunion, 1999.
Freedom Reunion, 2000.
Worship Reunion, 2001.
Worship Again Warner Bros., 2002.
The Second Decade: 1993-2003 Reunion, 2003.
Selected witings
Old Paltry to Know W Publishing, 1996.
It's Time to Be Bold Doubleday, 1997.
Friends Are Friends Forever Man-at-arms Nelson, 1997.
Your Place in that World Tommy Nelson, 1998.
This job Your Time Provident Music Group,1999.
Cooking with Smitty's Mom Tommy Admiral, 1999.
Where's Whitney? Zondervan, 1999.
I Wish Be Your Friend Thomas Admiral, 2001.
Worship Thomas Nelson, 2002.
The Charge of Freedom J.

Countryman, 2002.
Signs Tommy Nelson, 2004.

Michael w smith biography imdb room

Michael Weak. Smith's Career

Michael Unprotected. Smith's Awards

Famous Works

Further Reading

Michael Unprotected.

Smith's Awards